The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review Michael Avenatti's attempt to overturn his 2022 conviction, further solidifying his legal troubles involving high-profile client Stormy Daniels. This marks the second instance in which the nation's highest court has chosen not to hear an appeal related to Avenatti's array of criminal convictions.
According to Reuters, the Supreme Court's decision means that Avenatti will continue serving his prison sentence for the identity theft of nearly $300,000 that was intended for his former client, Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford.
In a Manhattan federal court, a jury found Avenatti guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The conviction was the result of evidence that Avenatti had forged Daniels' signature to redirect funds owed to her from a book deal.
Avenatti's appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, a decision that aligns with the earlier ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court had already upheld his conviction in March, dismissing arguments that cited a recent Supreme Court ruling as grounds for reversal.
Representing himself during his trial, Avenatti was unable to convince jurors of his innocence regarding the misappropriation of Daniels' book advance payments. Daniels herself testified that Avenatti had misled her into believing her payments were delayed by her publisher.
The judge presiding over the case described Avenatti’s conduct as "brazen and egregious." His actions led to a four-year prison sentence—a significant chapter in his ongoing legal battles.
This is not the first time the Supreme Court has reversed Avenatti's hope for overturning his verdict. Earlier in the year, in May, the court dismissed another appeal from Avenatti regarding a separate conviction connected to defrauding a youth basketball coach and attempting to extort Nike.
The Nike case added an additional two-and-a-half-year sentence to Avenatti's time behind bars. His notoriety now extends beyond his legal career, as he is serving more years for other fraud cases in California.
Avenatti once gained national attention as the lawyer for Daniels in her legal disputes with former President Donald Trump. The situation with Trump involved allegations of an affair in 2006, which led to a $130,000 payment from Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, as hush money.
While Trump's links to the payment were under scrutiny, resulting in a conviction for falsifying business records, Avenatti's reputation has similarly been consumed by his fraud cases. Beyond the New York conviction, he is concurrently serving a 14-year sentence for defrauding multiple clients in California.
Avenatti's decline from a prominent attorney to a convicted felon is stark, proving to be a cautionary tale of unethical practices.
The upcoming presidential race, featuring Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris, sees the former president embroiled in legal issues while his former adversary’s attorney faces his own judicial consequences.
Avenatti's criminal proceedings stem from a web of complex legal engagements with key individuals in the public eye. The case rooted in the Daniels-Trump affair has had broad implications, drawing attention to legal and ethical standards within high-profile circles.
While Avenatti’s conviction may have reached its conclusion in terms of appeals, the case continues to resonate as an example of personal misconduct crossing professional lines.
Finally, with the Supreme Court's latest refusal to hear his appeal, Avenatti remains bound by the rule of law. His journey through the legal system serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of overstepping legal and ethical boundaries within professional practice.
